Packaging machine



March 18 1958 HE. ENGLJESON ETA]. 2,827,151

PACKAGING MACHINE 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed OGC. 21. 1955 FIG! . INVENTORS:HARRY E. ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK Filed Oct. 21, 1955 March 18, 1958 H.E. ENGLESON ET'AL 2,827,151

PACKAGING MACHINE 3' Sheets-Sheet 3 FIG.5

2o 5 INVENTORS:

HARRY E .ENGLESON ELMER D. SRAMEK ATT'YS hired States 2,827,151PAckaoiNG tvmcnnsn Application ()ctober 21, 1955, Serial No. 541,940

8 Claims. (Cl. 1%37) This invention relates to machinery for insertingmanufactured articles into packages, and more particularly to methodsand means for loading movable conveyer buckets of such a machine with apredetermined number of articles and then mechanically checking todetect any deficiency in the number of articles appearing in a bucket.

Machinery for processing and packaging articles of manufacture commonlyincludes a movable conveyer with especially adapted holders fixedthereto for the purpose of holding and carrying the articles. in theindustry, these special holders are known as buckets, and for thepurpose of this specification the term bucket will be used accordingly.

in packaging articles of manufacture for sale to the public, it isessential that each package be completely filled and contain the full,predetermined number of articles intended for that package. When thepackaging is accomplished by machinery, it is desirable to employ amethod to insure the proper filling of a bucket with articles to bepackaged, and it is further essential to employ a device for checkingfor deficiencies which may result from malfunctioning or failure of somepart of the loading mechanism.

it is an object of this invention to provide an improved method forloading a predetermined number of articles 'upon a movable conveyerbucket from which they may be inserted into a package.

A further object of this invention is to provide an improved mcthod fordetecting any deficiency in the number of articles appearing in a bucketand to be included in a single carton or package.

Another object is to provide an improved detector mechanism formechanically determining whether each bucket of a conveyer is completelyfilled with a predetermined quantity of articles, such mechanism havinga gang of pivotally mounted fingers adapted to descend over the bucketand to probe positions along a row which is normally filled witharticles, and having an electrical switch which will be operated by anyfinger failing to contact an article and to be pivoted thereby; saidelectrical switch may be connected to stop the conveyer when adeficiency or" articles is thereby detected in a bucket.

A further object is to provide improved apparatus for loading a bucketwith predetermined number of articles and for subsequently determiningthat the bucket is in fact completely loaded.

According to this invention, articles to be packaged are arranged in arectilinear configuration having several rows, and then are moved onto abucket by a pusher ember that presses against the rearrnost row. Sincethe articles in preceding rows are urged forward by pressure fromthearticles immediately behind, any gaps which may have been present inthe original configuration will subsequently appear as gaps in theforemost row of the bucket. To detect the gaps or vacancies in theforemost row, a mechanical detecting device having a plurality offingers is moved downward into close proximity with the bucket, therebypermitting each finger to probe a position in the foremost row normallyoccupied by one of the articles. An electrical switch mechanism is somounted as to be operated by any finger which fails to contact anarticle.

Although this invention is generally concerned with the loading ofmanufactured articles onto intermittently moving buckets, a morecomplete understanding may be gathered in considering a particularmachine for packaging .22-caliber rifle cartridges as further describedin this specification and taken in conjunction with the accompanyingdrawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a detail perspective view of a portion of a cartridgepackaging machine illustrating the manner in which .22-calibercartridges are loaded onto movable buckets, and further illustrating thedetecting device for assuring that no bucket will be incompletelyloaded;

Fig. 2 is a detail front elevational view of the detecting devicelooking along the line 2-2 of 1, and showing the several detectorfingers thereon for probing and contacting cartridges positioned in thecartridge carrying part of a bucket;

Fig. 3 is a perspective View of the detector device positioned over abucket, and having .22caliber cartridges therein;

Fig. 4 is a side view of the detector device as it is positioned over abucket, but being shown in a raised position;

Fig. 5 is a View similar to Fig. 4 and illustrating the manner in whichthe fingers probe positions in the first row of cartridges andillustrating further the operation of the electrical switch when atleast one of the fingers fails to contact a cartridge; and

Fig. 6 is a view similar, to Figs. 4 and 5 and illustrating the mannerin which the fingers pivot upon contact with a cartridge and theposition of the electric switch when all of the fingers are outwardlypivoted.

The packaging machine, as particularly illustrated by the drawings, isfor placing .ZZ-caliber cartridges into boxes wherein the cartridges arearranged seven to a row in four rows, thereby providing for twenty-eightcartridges to a box. Cartridges are in two rows of tubes 1, Fig. 1, fromwhich they are guided downwardly into grooved structures 2 and thenceurged forward into corresponding grooves in a bucket loader member 3.The bucket loading tray 3 is an elongated platform containing sevenpockets 4. Each of the pockets includes seven parallel grooves toreceive the cartridges urged forward from the grooved structure 2. Thelength of the pockets 4 is just sufiicient to hold four cartridges lyingin the grooves in an end-to-end relationship. Therefore, each pocket ofthe loading tray will accommodate twenty-eight cartridges in arectangular configuration of four rows from the forward side to therear.

A plurality of buckets 5 is arranged adjacently and is mounted upon achain 6, thereby forming the conveyer which is adapted to moveintermittently and adapted to dwell with the buckets in predeterminedpositions between the intermittent motions thereof. Thus, the conveyermoves in steps with each successive bucket stopping at the samepredetermined position between each step. As is illustrated in Fig. 1,the conveyer and the buckets thereon may be of dual character havingbucket pockets 5 arranged to hold and transport the cartridges andhaving companion pockets 5' adapted to receive cardboard cartons intowhich the cartridges from the bucket parts 5 are ultimately transferred.

The loading tray 3 containing seven pockets 4 is first positioned inalignment with the grooved structure 2 to receive cartridges therefrom;and is thence moved to a second position in alignment wtih sevenadjacent buckets 5 as they dwell between intermittent movements of theconveyer chain 6. The cycle of operation of the loading When theconveyer dwellsbetween intermittent stops.

and thebucket loading 'tray comes into alignment with the conveyerbuckets, a movable dividing member 7 lowers-to a retracted position topermit the cartridges to beimoved from the pockets of the bucket'loadingtray 3 onto the buckets 5. A pusher member 8 formed with seven forwardlyextending pusher arms 9 is adapted to move across the loading tray 3 andpush cartridges from each pocket 4 of the loading tray into thecorresponding buckets 5 of the. conveyer.

The pusher'member 8 is rigidly mounted upon a supporting. bar 10 whichis in turn supported at its ends by' slide shoes 11 adapted to moveforwardly and rearwardly in the slide bearings 12. The forward andrearward motion of. the slide shoes 11 and of the structure connectedthereto, including the pusher member '8, is accomplished by linking bars13 connected to each slide shoe lland mechanically coupled to a maindrive shaft which also drives the conveyer chain 6. The driving.

means'for accomplishing the motion of the slide shoes 11 and of theconveyer chain 6 may be of any conventional type and may employconventional means for producing the intermittent motions required,'suchas Geneva gears, cams, etc.

The method for loading the buckets as accomplished by the apparatus ofthis invention, comprises generally arranging articles in apredetermined rectangular configuration having. several rows; thenceengaging the rearmost row of the configuration by a pusher member 8 andmoving the articles onto the buckets 5 by pressure against the rearmostrow. It will be appreciated that the articles in the foremost row areurged forward by further articles in subsequent rows, and that if 'anydeficiency orgap 7 appears in asubsequent' row of theoriginalconfiguration,

.an article of the foremost row will drop back and the configuration isadjusted in the step of moving the articles onto the bucket such that agap or deficiency. will appear in the foremost row of the bucket. Thus,by this method of loading, gaps or deficiencies of any part of theoriginal configuration. subsequently appear as deficiencies in theforemost row of the articles after they are loaded onto the bucket. A

After each bucket 5 of the conveyer is loaded with articles from theloading tray 3, it continues to advance with intermittent motionv to theright (as shown in Fig. l) and ultimately arrives at a position beneatha mechanical detecting mechanism 14.. The detector assembly141comprises. generally a plurality of probing elements 15. The

probingelements 15 are mounted to pivot about a point lfiandaresupported on a structure comprising an angular support. bar 17 which isin turn attached to a vertical slide bar 18; The vertical slide bar 18is mounted to slide upwardly and downwardly to raise and lower thesupporting bar 17* and the detector probe elements which are pivotallymounted thereon-.7 The slidably mounted bar 18 is mechanically linked tothe main drive shaft of, the machine by conventional means. and operatestherefrom in timed relation with. the movement of the conveyer suchthatthe detector probe fingers are lowered into the proximity of a bucket 5as the'bucket dwells between the intermittent movements of the conveyer.The

articles contained within the, buckets are confined thereto a by a pairof rails 19- and 20 positioned respectively in front. of and behind thebucket and: extending parallel to .the'direction ofmotion thereon. As isshown in Fig. 3, the; rear. rail, 20,- contains a. cut-out. portion. to.permit the vertical slide member 18 to descend without interferencebetween the rail 20 and the support bar 17'.

The detector mechanism 14 includes the plurality of pivotal probeelements 15 which are movably supported to be lowered into a positionfor probing the foremost row of cartridges contained in the bucket. Eachpivotal probe element .15 contains a 'finger 21 for probing the bucketand contains a hooked part 22 for engaging and operating an electricswitch assembly 23. The switch assembly 23 comprises generally anupstanding arm 24 mounted to pivot. about a point 25 and a ledge part 26adaptedto be engaged by any of the hooked parts 22' of the detectorelements 15. When the switch is operated, 'the ledge part 26 is pulleddown by one or more detector elements, and the upstanding arm 24' pivotsto the right (Figs. 4, 5 and 6) and electric contacts 27 and 28 areseparated. A tension spring 29 urges the upstanding arm 24 of theelectrical switch to the left (Figs. 4, S and 6) and holds the contacts27 and 28. together in a normally closed position. e Figs. 4; 5 and 6illustrate the manner of operation of the. detector. mechanism of thisinvention. In Fig, 4 the probe elements 22 are in a raised position overthe bucket 5. p In Figs. 5 and 6, the supporting bar 17. is lowered andthe elements 15 probe their respective posi:

tions which are normally occupied by articles in the. bucket 5. I Fig. 5illustrates the function of the detector. mechanism when one or morearticles are missing from 1 the foremost row of the bucket; and Fig.6illustrates the probing action of the detector mechanism 'when thebucket is completely filed and no deficiencies or gaps exist. In Fig..6, as the supporting bar 17 lowers the elements 15, the probing finger.21 contacts the articles and causes the element to be thereby pivoted;The

hooked part 22 of'the probing element 15' pivots away from and fails toengage the ledge 26 of the electric switch assembly 23, and, therefore,the electric switch contacts 27 and 28 remain in the closed position.Fig. 5,1 one;- of the cartridges is missing, leaving. a gap ordeficiency in the foremost row of the bucket. The

, supporting bar 17 has lowered andalthough several of the probe fingers21 have contacted cartridges and have caused the probe elements 15 topivot, at' least one of the fingers 21 had descended into the gap,resulting i and any deficiency subsequently appears in the foremost rowof articles. The detector mechanism probes each of the positionsnormally occupied by the articles of the foremost row, and if adeficiency there appears, the electric switch is opened. 1 The electricswitch 23 is connected by a cable 23' to conventional electricalcontrols supplying electric power to a motor coupled to the main driveshaft. The opening of the electric switch may function to stop themachine and therefore stopthe conveyer, or it may functionto set off analarm to alert an operator, or it may function to givea visualindication that a bucket and a carton filled therefrom lacks thepredetermined number'of articles;

Each probing element comprisesgenerally a partadapt ed to be journaledat the pivot point16, an upstanding vertical leg 30 terminating in ahooked part 22 at the upper extremity thereofr A first horizontal arm 31ex tends from an intermittent point on the vertical leg 30 to supportthe probe finger 21 which extends down- Wardly therefrom. A secondhorizontal arm 32 extends horizontally from the vertical leg 30 in adirection op posite to that of the first horizontal arm 31 and ternitates in a downwardly. extending. hooked part. 33;

A bar 34 is adjustably mounted on the supporting bar 17 and extends inspaced relation behind the upstanding legs 30 of the probe elements 15.A compression spring 35 is positioned between the bar 34 and each of theupstanding legs 30 of the pivotal mounted elements 15, thereby urgingthe probe element 15 in a counterclockwise direction (Figs. 4, 5 and 6)about the pivot point 16. The hooked part 33 of each probe elementengages the bar 34 to provide a stop limiting the pivotal motion of theprobe elements.

Changes may be made in the form, construction and arrangement of theparts without departing from the spirit of the invention or sacrificingany of its advantages, and the right is hereby reserved to make all suchchanges as fall fairly within the scope of the following claims.

The invention is hereby claimed as follows:

1. Apparatus for loading a bucket of a movable conveyer with apredetermined number of articles, said apparatus comprising meansadjacent to the conveyer for arranging the articles in a configurationhaving a plurality of rows, means associated with the first means forpushing the articles from a side of said configuration into the conveyerbucket whereupon the articles in the foremost row are urged forward bypressure from articles in a subsequent row and whereby any deficiency inthe number of articles of the original configuration results in adeficiency of articles in the foremost row in the bucket, and meansassociated with the conveyer for detecting the deficiency of articles inthe foremost row of the bucket.

2. Apparatus for loading a bucket of a conveyer with a predeterminednumber of articles, said apparatus comprising means adjacent to theconveyer for arranging the articles in a configuration having aplurality of rows, means operatively associated with the first means formoving the articles onto the bucket by pressure against the rearmost rowof articles whereupon the articles in the foremost row are urged forwardby pressure from articles in subsequent rows and whereby any deficiencyin the number of articles in the original configuration causes adeficiency of articles in the foremost row in the bucket, and a devicepositioned substantially over the conveyer for detecting a deficiency ofarticles in the foremost row of the bucket, said device including aplurality of fingers pivotally mounted on a movable support, saidsupport being operable to move said fingers into close proximity withthe bucket whereupon each of said fingers probes a position in theforemost row in the bucket which is normally occupied by one of thearticles, and an electric switch associated with said fingers forstopping the conveyer when any of said fingers fails to contact anarticle.

3. Apparatus for loading a bucket of a conveyer with a predeterminednumber of articles, said apparatus comprising means adjacent to theconveyer for arranging the articles in a configuration having aplurality of rows, means operatively associated with the first means formoving the articles onto the bucket by pressure against the rearmost rowof articles whereupon the articles in the foremost row are urged forwardby pressure from articles in subsequent rows, and a device for detectinga deficiency in the number of articles in the foremost row of thebucket, said device including a movable support, a plurality of fingerspivotally mounted upon the support, said support being operable to movethe fingers into close proximity with the bucket whereupon each fingerprobes a position in the foremost row of articles in the bucket, saidfingers individually pivoting upon contact with the articles, anelectrical switch operatively associated with the fingers and responsiveto any of said fingers failing 7 4. A method for mechanically detectinga deficiency in a predetermined number of articles, said methodcomprising arranging said articles in a plurality of rows, moving thearticles by exerting a force against the rearmost row and therebytransposing any gaps in any of the rows to the foremost row, andmechanically probing positions normally occupied by articles in theforemost row.

5. A method for loading a bucket of a machine with a predeterminednumber of articles and for mechanically detecting a deficiency in thenumber of articles so loaded, said method comprising arranging saidarticles in a configuration having a plurality of rows, moving thearticles onto the bucket by pressing against the rear of theconfiguration and thereby permitting articles to fill any gaps in therows behind the foremost row and to transpose any gaps to the foremostrow, and mechanically probing the bucket at positions normally occupiedby articles of the foremost row.

6. In a detector mechanism for sequentially probing the buckets of aconveyer and for operating an electric switch to stop the conveyer whena deficiency of articles appears in a bucket, a detector elementcomprising a journaled part for pivotally supporting the detectorelement, an upstanding leg extending vertically from the journaled part,a horizontal arm extending horizontally from an intermediate point ofthe upstanding leg above the journaled part, a probe finger extendingdownwardly from the horizontal arm, and a hooked part at the upperextremityof the upstanding leg adapted for engaging and operating theelectric switch when the detector element is lowered and when the probefinger fails to engage an article in a bucket.

7. In a detector mechanism for sequentially probing the buckets of aconveyer and for operating an electric switch to stop the conveyer whena deficiency of articles appears in a bucket, a detector elementcomprising a journaled part for pivotally supporting the detectorelement, an upstanding leg extending vertically from the journaled part,a first horizontal arm extending horizontally from an intermediate pointof the upstanding leg above the journaled part, a probe finger extendingdownwardly from the first horizontal arm, a hooked part at the upperextremity of the upstanding leg adapted for engaging and operating theelectric switch when the detector element is lowered and when the probefinger fails to engage an article in a bucket, a second horizontal armextending horizontally in the direction opposite of the direction of thefirst horizontal arm, and a downwardly extending part forming anotherhook at the extremity of the second horizontal arm, said hook beingadapted to engage a stop member of the detector mechanism.

8. A method for mechanically detecting a deficiency in a predeterminednumber of articles, said method comprising arranging a plurality of rowsof articles on a support wherein each row includes a predeterminednumber of articles arranged in side-by-side relation, supplying a forceto the rearmost row of articles to advance the row transversely of itsaxis, moving the articles to an adjacent support thereby transposing anygaps in any of the rows to the foremost row, and mechanically probingpositions normally occupied by the articles in the foremost row.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,952,042 Ahnger Mar. 27, 1934 2,696,903 Krupke Dec. 14, 1954 FOREIGNPATENTS 298,315 Great Britain Oct, 11, 1928

